Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

John James Powers

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Remembered at A.B.M.C. Manila
Wall of the Missing

Also Remembered At
Bronx, NY

Born: July 13, 1912 at
New York, NY

Entered Service in the US
Navy from New York, NY

Earned
The Medal of Honor During World War II For heroism April 04 -
08, 1942 at Coral Sea

Died:May
08, 1942 at the age of 29

Lieutenant
Powers flew five engagements with Japanese forces in the Coral
Sea area for four deadly days. Three attacks were made on enemy
objectives at or near Tulagi on May 4 in which he scored a
direct hit which demolished a large enemy ship and severely
damaged an aircraft tender and a 20,000-ton transport. On May 7
he fearlessly led three dive bombers and dove in the face of
heavy antiaircraft fire, to an altitude well below the safety
altitude, in order that he might positively obtain a hit in a
vital part of the ship. The ship sank soon after being hit. That
evening he lectured the squadron on point-of-aim and diving
technique. He advocated low release point to insure greater
accuracy. The next morning as the pilots left the ready room he
told them: "Remember the folks back home are counting on
us. I am going to get a hit if one have to lay it on their
flight deck.'' He led his dive bombers to the target from 18,000
feet, through a wall of bursting antiaircraft shells and into
the face of enemy fighter planes. Completely disregarding the
safety altitude and without fear or concern for his safety, he
pressed home his attack, almost to the very deck of an enemy
carrier and did not release his bomb until he was sure of a
direct hit which also destroyed his own airplane.